Here’s What You Need to Know About the Upcoming Democratic National Convention – Essence

It’s been lower than a month since Vice President Kamala Harris became the recent Democratic presidential candidate, and every week since Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz became her running mate. Both Harris and Walz are scheduled to attend this 12 months’s Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago, where delegates from across the country and U.S. territories will meet from August 19 to 22 to support the Harris Walz campaign.

Although the historic campaign is in its infancy, it got off to a roaring start after Biden dropped out of the race. Democratic leaders quickly endorsed Harris, who “raised more than enough delegate support to win the nomination in her first 24 hours. She quickly energized voters, raising more than $300 million and hosting rallies with more than 10,000 attendees.” USA today reports.

In an unusual move, Democrats have already endorsed Harris and Walz as nominees via a virtual roll call ahead of the convention. Harris will formally accept the nomination at the 2024 DNC, and delegates may also develop a comprehensive platform for the Democratic Party around key issues like the economy, immigration and reproductive rights.

This 12 months the convention will likely be held in two separate locations Windy City venues: “The United Center, an arena on the city’s West Side, will host evening events — meaning prime-time programming and speeches for the public. McCormick Place, which is downtown near Lake Michigan, will host daytime events, mostly formal parties and meetings.”

DNC Chairman Jaime Harrison shared a few of the arguments for selecting Chicago because the host city had to contend with the city’s “labor ties and immediate readiness to accommodate some 50,000 guests, 20,000 media representatives, and 5,500 delegates, alternates, and other guests expected to attend the convention.”

According to the White House, President Biden is predicted to appear as a speaker. Additionally, some sources have revealed that former President Obama, Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton may even be on the schedule, ABC News reports.

Karine Jean-Pierre, White House Press Secretarysaid Biden “looks forward to speaking directly to the American people, as he does, … talking about the moment that we’re in, what’s at stake, and continuing to talk about an issue that’s incredibly important to him, which is unity, making sure that we’re united and continuing to do the job that the president has done so well over the last three and a half years.”

“I think you can expect this president to seize the moment” Jean-Pierre he said. “He understands that this is an incredibly important moment… He’s still the leader of the party, right? And he takes it very seriously. And he’s also very proud of his vice president.”

As with their Republican counterparts’ conventions, a big number protesters are expected and have been in contentious talks with city officials over permits. The March on the DNC Coalition, a coalition of progressive organizations, has scheduled marches for the first and last days of the convention that can focus largely on opposition to Israel and the war in Gaza, which many Democrats have publicly supported.